A trial attorney for over 35 years, Jim Borkowski is known as a personable straight shooter, with a high success rate resolving construction accident cases, premises liability cases, general liability, and automobile claims. He has successfully represented insurance carriers, corporations, and individuals in personal injury, Labor Law 240 construction cases, general liability, premises liability, property damage, automobile and commercial litigation (both plaintiff and defendant).

Mr. Borkowski’s straightforward approach to mediation avoids the typical “ping pong” dynamic of stratospheric demands versus lowball offers. This is followed by small incremental back-and-forth negotiations. By establishing trust, he speaks privately with each side early on in the mediation and gains an understanding of each party’s settlement goal. By getting to the heart of the matter, Mr. Borkowski is able to frame the negotiation and lead the case toward a resolution. He maintains, “successful mediation is gaining trust, that along with effective communication, gets results.” In the event a case does not settle, Mr. Borkowski goes the extra mile, and maintains contact with the parties to continue negotiations and pursue a settlement.

Mr. Borkowski has deep experience mediating catastrophic injuries from construction accidents (death, disfigurement, amputation, paralysis, brain injury), municipal and private construction contract disputes (breach of contract by general contractor, railroad construction disputes), premises liability (shootings, trip and fall), automobile accidents (private automobiles, commercial vehicles, bus
accidents, pedestrian knock-down).

As both a neutral, and in his private practice, Mr. Borkowski handles high-value contract disputes. He recently won a $15 million dollar breach of contract jury trial against a Westchester County municipality.

With extensive experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants, Mr. Borkowski has the perspective to fairly analyze lawsuits from both sides and appreciates the concerns and goals of all involved. It is the highest form of compliment that many of his former adversaries, both plaintiffs and defendants, use him as a neutral at NAM.

− “Thank you for a great settlement day. We settled nine out of nine cases. You are the best of the best.” – Plaintiff Attorney

− “It was a pleasure working with you. My client and I appreciated your hard work to get this case resolved.” – Plaintiff Attorney

− “Jim was awesome. I didn’t think the case could settle.” – Defense Attorney

− “You are the best to work with.” – Insurance Company, Senior Claims Representative

Mr. Borkowski tried over 100 jury trials in the New York Metro area. Recognizing the risk mitigation and cost savings for clients, he spent many years of his career negotiating settlements through private mediation.

He earned an “AV Distinguished” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a distinction given only to those who possess the “highest level of professional excellence in legal ability and legal ethics.”

Prior to joining NAM, Mr. Borkowski served as a Town Justice in the Town of Southeast, one of the busiest Justice Courts in New York State. In that role, for 11 years (1998 – 2009), he presided over jury and non-jury trials and facilitated the settlement of hundreds of civil and commercial cases.

Mr. Borkowski began his career in 1987 as an Assistant District Attorney in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, where he litigated trials, pre-trial hearings, and presented cases before grand juries. Subsequently, in the early nineties, he was an associate for a prominent New York City law firm, where he was a member of a special litigation team investigating liability theories for the Lockerbie Air Disaster (Flight 103). He also served as an attorney for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) for personal injury actions, and litigated commercial, insurance, and foreclosure matters for the firm.

Mr. Borkowski is available to arbitrate and mediate cases throughout the New York Metro area.